Robert Arthur Sloan

Robert Arthur Sloan enlisted on 17th January, 1917 in the 13th Infantry Battalion (24th-26th Reinforcement) February 1917 - March 1917, and embarked at Sydney on 7th February 1917 on board HMAT “Wiltshire" A18. He was 24 years old at the time, single and working as a labourer. His service number is 7315.  He gave his address as Jersey Rd, Wentworthville and named his father, R. Sloan of the same address, as his next of kin. He was Presbyterian. Red Cross records report that during active service at Villers Bretonneux he received machine gun wounds to the right arm, right leg and abdomen, while another account describes a shell bursting, wounding him and killing nine others. The report confirms that he died of his wounds on 18th September, 1918, and was buried at the British Military Cemetery at Brie on the 19th September.He was Lance Corporal.

Service Number: 7315

Rank: Private

Roll title: 13 Infantry Battalion - 24 to 26 Reinforcements (February 1917 - March 1918)

Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918

Date of embarkation: 07 February 1917

Place of embarkation: Sydney

Ship embarked on: HMAT Wiltshire A18

Parramatta Park - Part 3

Gate House

Gatehouses are part of the evolution of the Park from Governor’s Domain to Parramatta Park. There are 6 gatehouses in Parramatta Park:

• George Street  Gatehouse - Tudor Gatehouse – Grand entrance
• Ross Street Gatehouse
• Park Road Gatehouse
• Macquarie Street  Gatehouse - Tea Room – Gothic-style
• Great Western Hwy Gatehouse  – Mays Hill
• Queens Road Gatehouse

Bath House

The bath house was built in 1823. The Governors Bath House has intricate exposed timber work within the internal roof structure and large sandstone paving under foot. Due to his war wounds, Governor Brisbane wanted a private place with warm baths. This Bath House is convict built heating and pumping system. In 1886, Parramatta Park Trustees converted the Bath House  to Pavilion.

William Hart Memorial

William Edward Hart was born on 20 April 1885 at Parramatta. He was first Australian to fly a plane and first qualified pilot in Australia. On 29 June, 1911  Billy won Australia's first air race when he defeated the American A. B. Stone from Botany to Parramatta Park.

Dairy Cottage

The Dairy Cottage is one of Australia’s oldest surviving colonial buildings and offers a glimpse back into Australia’s past. Dairy Cottage was constructed between 1798 and 1805 by ex-convict George Salter. In 1811 – 1815 Governor Macquarie purchased George Salter’s land and converted this cottage to Diary. Dairy Cottage is rare intact structure of European settlement. Dairy Cottage remains unchanged since c1820. 

Boer War Memorial

Boer War Memorial was erected in 1904. This is in memory of first Australian troops to arrive in Africa in 1899 from Lancer Barracks Parramatta to take part in Boer War. This was the first overseas military engagement in which troops were representing Australia. 

Lady Fitzroy Memorial

Memorial erected near the site of the carriage accident on 7 December 1847 which took the life of Lady Mary Fitzroy, wife of the Governor and aide de camp Lieutenant Charles Masters. A commemorative Oak tree was planted to mark the site of the accident. The current oak tree is the third tree to be planted on the site in c1996.

Government House

Governor Phillip laid out the area of Domain in 1790 as part of the settlement of Rose Hill and constructed a small timber cottage for the Governor’s residence. Nine years later, Governor Hunter replaced the cottage with two stories Georgian House. This convict built Old Government House is the oldest surviving public buildings in Australia and is a World Heritage site. It was the country residence for the first ten governors of NSW.

The Crescent

Natural ridgeline which once framed a small billabong on the bank of the Parramatta River. First Government House in Parramatta was built for Governor Phillip in 1790 on the ascending hill of The Crescent. Now the Crescent is used as an event space. This year Tropfest Jr will be held at The Crescent.

Observatory Transit Stones

Observatory was built by Governor Macquarie in 1822. Two marker trees were planted to the south of the of the transit stones with two additional in the southern domain. All four trees marked as a north-south alignment across the Governor’s Domain. This was the third observatory built in Australia. It was at this observatory, first extensive and systematic cataloguing of Southern Skies were carried out astronomers. The observatory building was demolished in 1848 with only the transit stones on their plinth left standing. A 16 inch repeating circle and the 5 foot 6 inch transit telescope are now on display at the Powerhouse Museum.

 

Parramatta Park - Part 2

Parramatta Park

Parramatta Park is one of Australia’s most significant cultural landscapes

Over 100 archaeological sites related to aboriginal history and early colonial history

Monuments and buildings built by convicts with cultural significance

Successful colonial farming in Australia

Beginning of cattle industry in Australia

Timeline – Parramatta Park

1788 – 1792: Governor Arthur Phillip

Establishment of convict town at Rose hill

Naming of the crescent

Construction of Government Cottage on The Crescent

Name changed from Rose hill to Parramatta

1795 – 1800: Governor John Hunter

30 acres land grant to George Salter

Construction of Dairy Cottage

Construction of first mill

Extension to Governor’s cottage

1800 – 1806: Governor Philip Gidley King

Dairy farms in Parramatta

Government house built on the site of earlier cottage

1806 – 1808: Governor William Bligh

                      Visited Parramatta twice a month but rarely stayed in Parramatta

                    Governor Bligh was granted 105 acres land to north of Government House by Governor King

1806 – 1808: Governor William Bligh

                      Visited Parramatta twice a month but rarely stayed in Parramatta

1806 – 1808: Governor William Bligh

                     Visited Parramatta twice a month but rarely stayed in Parramatta

1806 – 1808: Governor William Bligh

                     Visited Parramatta twice a month but rarely stayed in Parramatta

1806 – 1808: Governor William Bligh

                     Visited Parramatta twice a month but rarely stayed in Parramatta

Continued to Part 3

Parramatta Park - Part 1

European History

In September 1788 Governor Phillip announced his intension to establish a settlement at Parramatta.

Governor Hunter granted George Salter 30 acres in 1796. Salter erected a small cottage sometime between 1796 and 1800, which was later purchased by Governor Macquarie for Government use. This cottage, which is still standing, was enlarged by Macquarie and became known as the Governor's Dairy. It is one of the oldest buildings in Australia.

In 1823 Brisbane also constructed a bathhouse west of Old Government House. When in operation a sunken bath was located in the centre of the building surrounded by a suite of rooms. In 1886 the building was converted to its present form as a pavilion after it had been extensively vandalised following the Domain becoming a public Park in 1857.

During the years 1822 to the 1850's the area supported agriculture whilst also being used as a gentrified residence for successive Governors. The last Governor to occupy the house, Fitzroy left Government House in 1855 after the death of his wife. During the 1840's it was debated whether to hand Governors Domain to Trustees for public use which was finally achieved in 1858. Parramatta Park has been a People's Park since then.

Archaeology: Indigenous – Parramatta Park has evidence of Aboriginal occupation. Aboriginal stone artefacts have been found in 14 locations. According to Aboriginal consultants, scarred trees are located within Parramatta Park. 

Archaeology: Non-Indigenous – Government farm and convict huts are one of the first buildings constructed in Parramatta Park.

During the years 1822 to the 1850's the area supported agriculture whilst also being used as a gentrified residence for successive Governors. The last Governor to occupy the house, Fitzroy left Government House in 1855 after the death of his wife. During the 1840's it was debated whether to hand Governors Domain to Trustees for public use which was finally achieved in 1858. Parramatta Park has been a People's Park since then.

Aboriginal History

Darug people called Parramatta as Burramatta. Burramatta consists of two words:

• Burra meaning eel
• Matta meaning creek

Evidence of Aborigional occupation exists within Parramatta Park along the ridgeline of the Cresent and Domain Creek – scarred trees and several artefacts.

Parramatta Park is a World Heritage listed site and one of the oldest Parks in Australia. The 85 ha park offers a unique blend of natural and rural landscapes and historical features.

Continued to Part 2